Wax carefully makes his way down a street in Feltrel, a filthy city, searching for Bloody Tan. He uses steel to find moving metal and pushes out in every direction to make a bubble around himself. The bubble keeps a bullet from killing him. He fires back and pushes. The large caliber bullet with extra powder goes through the wood the other man is hiding behind. Another shot goes off and Wax soon realizes it was from his significant other, Lessie. Another body thumps to the ground and they determine they were from Donal’s crew (who didn’t like them). They split up and Wax finds a cellar. He uses his Feruchemical power (skimming) to lighten himself and drop down into it. He finds mummified people in all sorts of positions as he makes his way through a tunnel-like structure. On the other side, Wax makes his way up an include and finds Bloody Tan has captured Lessie and is rambling on about his art. Usually the pair uses this type of situation to their advantage. Wax shoots, but Bloody Tan moves Lessie so the bullet hits her right above the eye. Wax then shoots Tan in the head.

Five months later, Wax finds himself in Elendel attending balls and trying to repair the reputation of his family. One night, he finds himself on a balcony and leaves the party to go out into the mists (which appear randomly). He uses his twin powers to jump through the night and go to the top of a tall spire. Instead of using coins, Wax uses empty bullet casings. He also uses his guns as a force to push him slightly in one direction or another while he is airborne. He realizes he will have to be more careful about that in the large city. He sees a group of street thugs aiming a rifle at a group of unsuspecting constables from an alley. Wax drops himself into the alley, but hears a whimpering that sounds like a woman. He freezes and is reminded of Lessie. He quickly drops a casing and launches himself out of the alley. The thugs shoot after him and luckily Wax is not hit. He is mad at himself for freezing up. He knows he could shoot now but goes off into the night instead. Wax returns to his home - Landrian Mansion - and tries to sneak in through the fourth floor balcony. His servant, Tillaume, enters his bedroom to tell him a bath is ready for him. Wax says he will send an apology to Lady Cett, as his quick departure caused a scene (not for the first time at a party). Tillaume reminds Wax the city has plenty of constables, but they only have one High Lord Ladrian. Thousands of people are depending on him to restore House Ladrian after his uncle nearly destroyed it. He puts away his mistcoat and revolvers. He tells Tillaume to put the trunk somewhere safe, but away. He won’t be needing them for his new life in Elendel City.

A few months later, Wax has become a proper gentleman trying to repair his family’s reputation. When he believes that Lord Harms and his daughter, Steris, have arrived, he makes himself wait to not seem too eager for their arrival. He asks Miss Grimes for news to keep himself distracted. She tells him they lost a second shipment of steel from the train transporting it. Wax is intrigued, but knows he can’t be distracted by those thoughts. She also shows him a wedding invitation. He has prepare a response for him and Miss Harms, but tells her to wait to send it until seeing how their meeting goes. Wax enters the sitting room, but instead of his expected guests, he finds Wayne. Wax tries to hurry him out, but Wayne is investigating a railway shipment from Elendel to Weathering that had an entire car emptied. When the Harms suddenly enter the room, Wayne has donned a disguise and says he is Wax’s uncle. Lord Harms introduces his daughter, Steris, who in turn introduces her cousin, Marasi. Steris has laid out her terms into a document for Wax to go over. She has planned for everything from their engagement to affairs in their relationship. Wayne uses bendalloy to slow time for everyone outside his bubble. He thinks Steris is crazy and makes the mistake of mentioning Lessie. Wax explains the marriage is his duty and he is a different person now. Wayne gives Wax a bullet. As the other three people in the room start to slowly turn their heads back towards them, Wayne stops burning the bendalloy. Wax tries to get to know Steris by asking about her hobbies. She mentions going to the theater, which was recently robbed during a play. Wayne, Wax and Marasi are all interested in the connection to the train robbers called the Vanishers. The group started out with very secretive theft and are now being more forward and taking prisoners. The conversation is steered back to more appropriate topics. At Wayne’s silent suggestion, Wax puts some steel in his tea and pushes on the bullet in his hand. The metal is aluminum and can’t be pushed with Allomancy. The bullet is meant to kill coinshots and lurchers. Steris agrees their first appearance together will be the wedding before the group leaves. Wayne tries to convince Wax that people need his help. Wax agrees to at least talk to Wayne about the robberies. Wayne tells him there have been eight and seven of those were railway cars. Four hostages have been taken over the last three jobs. Wax thinks they are already well funded and the robberies are a distraction for something else they are after.

Wax starts to go through the broadsheets about the Vanishers he had Lemmi bring him. He starts to contemplate how the robberies are being committed. At first the Engineers would see something on the tracks (a fallen tree at first, later a ghostly phantom car). They would stop the train, but whatever was in the way was gone. They would start moving again and wouldn’t notice they were robbed until checking the cargo at their stop. He starts looking into what was stolen. Tillaume says the first shipment was wool. Wax finds that unlikely as the time of year was wrong and the owner, Lord Tekiel, was probably avoiding taxes on aluminum by saying it was wool. Wax has Tillaume fetch him a large sheet of paper and he starts jotting down orderly notes. He comes to find allomantic metals were stolen. He also thinks the women that were taken are most likely Allomancers. He works on this until early morning. Tillaume reminds him that thousands of families are counting on him to be a good lord. Wax puts in his Pathian earring for his daily meditation. He thinks Harmony is saying he can be both a good lord and stop the vanishers. He remembers Lessie and decides he doesn’t need to get involved because the Vanishers aren’t hurting anyone physically.

Steris has strict rules for Wax as they enter the Yomen mansion to attend a wedding. She explains to him the politics of who was invited and who wasn’t. They find their table and sit with her father and Marasi. Wax gets a message from Wayne (disguised as a server) in his tea. The boring conversations continue until Marasi asks about Wax’s life as a lawman. As their conversation continues, Steris finds it inappropriate. They have some fun at her expense and she leaves to freshen up. Lord Harms uses the opportunity to escape his daughter. Wayne comes up to the table, and Marasi admits that she is studying legal justice at university and couldn’t pass up the chance to talk to Wax. Wayne brings up that Wax was right about the women that were kidnapped being Allomancers. He also tells them they were related and from different lines traced back to the Lord Mistborn. Wayne asks if Wax brought a gun. Wax scoffs at the idea until he realizes the wedding is the perfect opportunity for the Vanishers to acquire their next target wile making it look like a robbery. The doors open.

The Vanishers start pouring into the hall. They are armed and go from table to table to collect everyone’s valuables. The masked leader sounds familiar to Wax as he gives out orders. A retired constable makes a fuss about how shameful the robbery is. Wax tells Wayne to leave his dueling canes under the table to prevent bystanders from getting hurt. Marasi writes down description of the Vanishers. Wax uses steel to push the canes and Marasi’s notebook to the table to hide them. A man with koloss blood, Tarson, takes their stuff (including Wax’s marked bills and Wayne’s lucky hat). Some of the thieves are looking at faces and comparing them to pictures they carry. They decide to take Steris and one picks Marasi to take as well. She drops her notebook and the koloss-blooded man, Tarson, sees the descriptions and takes it. As they start to leave with the hostages, the old constable rushes after them to insist he be a hostage instead. The leader shoots him. Wayne makes his speed bubble so he and Wax can prepare. Wax pulls out two pistols.

Wayne drops the bubble and the commotion starts. Eventually the Vanishers realize Wax is a coinshot and start loading their aluminum bullets. He is able to take them out and goes to save Marasi because she is closer. Tarson has an aluminum gun to her head. When he points it at Wax, Marasi throws her head back into Tarson’s chin. Wax shoots him in the arm. He grabs Marasi and uses a bullet to launch them to the balcony. He takes out two bandits. There are two left when Marasi grabs a rifle and kills them. Wax runs outside to go after Steris, but they are gone. The constables arrive. Brettin, the captain, tries to blame the bystander’s injuries on Wax. Most of the constables seem to be collecting information that Wax saved the wedding guests. After giving his statement and letting Brettin know that he is not afraid of him, he and Wayne walk Marasi and Lord Harm to their carriage. He promises to find Steris, who Marasi promises is not an Allomancer or a Feruchemist. Wayne gives Wax one of the ten aluminum rifle bullets. Wax offers to give Wayne a room to stay in.

Marasi goes to talk with Wax, and Tillaume leads her up to his study. Wax has been working nonstop to try to figure out the Vanisher’s secrets. They figure there are two groups, the backers that want the kidnap victims and the burglars who want the wealth. Wax takes her to another board where he has traced the genealogy of the women taken. Marasi realizes that the backers are trying to breed an army of Allomancers. Wax is slightly relieved that Steris is out of immediate danger, but Marasi points out that she is in a different kind of danger.

Wayne “trades” a silk shirt for a constable’s uniform and goes into the fourth octant Constabulary. He makes a scene and demands to see Brettin. Wayne says he is from the seventh octant and they have the rights to prosecute because the first robbery was in their jurisdiction. Brettin agrees to give Wayne 10 minutes with two men if he agrees to stop the paperwork for a transfer. Wayne uses his collection of accents to whisper to the thief that he is trying to help him. He gets hits and pieces, but the man is too suspicious. He mentions a new guy, Sindren. Wayne insists on picking him out as his second person. He uses a speed bubble to tell Sindren he is on his side. Sindren confirms the name of the recruiter and a location. Wayne tells him to tell the conners everything in exchange for his freedom and then to leave the city. When Wayne stops slowing time, Sindren acts like he is refusing to answer questions. Wayne leaves.

Wax and Marasi discuss philosophy around law keeping and criminals. Marasi admits that she likes living in the city and doesn’t want to become a law keeper. She does want to institute change in other, more effective ways. Wayne arrives and tells them what he learned. Marasi wants to go with them to the foundry base. Wax realizes they tried to kidnap her because she is the illegitimate daughter or Lord Harms. Wax points out the bendalloy flakes for Wayne. Tillaume comes in with tea. Wayne drinks the tea and tells Wax it is poisoned. The butler pulls out an aluminum gun and tries to shoot Wax with an aluminum bullet. Wax pushes his metal button at Tillaume, who falls into the doorway. Tillaume pulls something out of his basket and an explosion starts. Wayne makes a speed bubble to give them time to think. Wax uses all of his weight at once to have them fall through the floor and away from the explosion. Wayne lands on top of them to protect them from the blast. He uses his Feruchemical stored healing as Wax calms Marasi down. HE then has Wayne sneak her out while he checks on everyone else in the house. Wax finds many missing and other unconscious. As he takes the drugged women outside, Wax realizes Tillaume must have been working with the Vanishers for a while.

They take a rented carriage to the foundry to check it out. Wax and Wayne go first to check for traps and then come back to get Marasi. She suggests they check the floor for aluminum. Wax shows her some he already scraped from the ground. Wayne finds a large door on wheels and pushes it open easily (indicating the Vanishers used the canal outside for shipping). Marasi points out the windows are darker then they should be from regular foundry use. Wa goes outside and sends Wayne ahead of Marasi to check out the loft. After waiting a while, she goes up the stairs to find Wayne. After they search (finding a cigar box and nude cards) Wayne tells Marasi that he was supposed to be hung for shooting an innocent man accidentally while trying to rob him. That is why he doesn’t use guns and leaves something in trade whenever he takes something. He sends half of what he earns to the man’s family. Wax finds them and says some beggars confirmed the Vanishers made some large shipments. Marasi gives him the cigar box. Wax says they need to visit Miles “Hundred Lives” Dagouter.

Miles and his men are now underground with the backer, Mr. Suit. The men are starting to wonder if Miles is working with Wax. Miles tells Clamps to assure them they are on the right side of the law. It is the elite in the city who are the criminals. Mr. Suit calls Miles into his office. He questions Miles’ connection to Wax, but Miles says he won’t be a problem. Mr. Suit gives him the plans to Tekiel’s new theft proof freight car and says plans are in the works. Miles asks what he should do with Steris. Mr. Suit wants him to keep her awhile, admitting it was a mistake to take her because of her connection to Wax. Miles says he will kill Wax that day. Wax, Wayne, and Marasi take a train to go see Miles. On the way, Wax explains that Miles is twinborn and both his powers use gold so he can compound them making him practically immortal. Wax wants to send Marasi away, but she points out there isn’t anywhere she could go. He asks her what kind of Allomancer she is. She admits she is the opposite of Wayne - she can slow time, but only inside her bubble. Marasi wonders if they should take what they know to the constables, but Wax made a promise to return Steris to Lord Harms. Wax is certain Miles is the boss as the train comes to a stop.

When their carriage stops near the location of the last train robbery, Wayne pays the man well to wait for them. He also wants to trade the driver for his hat. The man ends up just giving it to Wayne. As they look around, they determine the job had to involve machinery. Bendalloy would cost too much and not be enough help to pull off the jobs. Wayne goes over to Marasi to ask her about her power. Her bubble is bigger, but still only helps her pass time. Wayne wonders what would happen if they burned at the same time. Marasi says they would cancel each other out. Wayne pokes around to see if she is interested in Wax and indicates Wax likes her. He thinks love will help him get over Lessie. Wax finds a perfect rectangle in the dirt, but no other signs. They decide to head back and take another train. While Wax is washing up in a separate railcar, he is shot at. The masked boss, Miles, has come for him.

Miles immediately starts firing and Wax does what he can to dodge the aluminum. Wax uses his powers to quickly get on top of the train to avoid any bystanders getting hurt. Miles follows and takes off his mask. Wax shoots at his hands to make him drop the gun. The two fight on top of the train. Miles pulls out his other gun and is able to graze Wax’s side. Wax shoots off Miles’ hand again to get rid of the gun. Miles’ compounding allows him to heal almost instantly (even when shot in the head). Miles explains he is still a lawmaker. He is doing what is best for the Roughs which are constantly ignored by the city. Wax is disappointed in him and they continue to fight. He realizes he can’t kill Miles, so he will need to throw him off the train. Miles throws Wax off, and Wax is able to use his powers to survive. He then uses steel to push off the tracks and get back onto the train. He takes the bullets from his gun and tosses them at Miles. When Miles catches them, Wax pushes to send him flying off the train. The train stops at the next station, and Wax waits for the locked car containing Wayne and Marasi to be opened. Marasi is embarrassed when she barges in to find Wax’s wound being bandaged. Wayne points out they need to find a safe place to stay.

When Ranette sees Wax and Wayne on her stoop, she grabs her shotgun and gives them ten seconds to leave. She slams the door shut. After a few minutes, she opens it again. Wayne offers her the aluminum gun he originally gave to Wax. She accepts it and lets them in. As she takes apart the gun, Wayne tries to get closer to Ranette. Wax finds special bullets she has been making to kill each type of Allomancer. Wax tells her he needs new guns. She lets him borrow one she calls Vindication. It has a safety inside the handle only a coinshot or lurcher can access. There is also a lever to access two special hazekiller bullets. Wax sends Wayne for shipping manifests and Marasi for fishing nets. He intends to sketch out a plan. Ranette points out he will need a small army to kill Miles, which is Wax’s intent.

Mr. Suit is not happy Miles didn’t kill Wax. The Set thinks Miles is going to betray them. Mr. Suit says they will have their last robbery that night and hide out for six months. He has a coinshot and a lurcher he insists Miles takes with him. He has them search the other men for any traces of metal. Miles burns a bit of gold. He sees his lawkeeper self and his outlaw self. The two sides hate each other. He goes past the things stolen from Wax’s mansion to get his white lawkeeper duster. Meanwhile Wax works on his plan. Marais comes to talk to him about it. She questions if they should involve the constables. Wax explains he needs to take out Miles. They guess what each thinks about the other. Marasi wants to admit her feelings for Wax, but he cuts her off to say she should have a rifle. He knows he wouldn’t be good for her. Marasi leaves embarrassed to go check on Wayne and Ranette. Wax puts in his earring.

Wayne, disguised as an old lady, goes up to the Tekiel’s Breaknaught railcar. He sees the cargo inside and asks about the features. A guard explains the lock is on a timer and the steel is too think to be blown up. The guard start to get suspicious and Wayne takes off into the crowd. He turns a corner and creates a speed bubble to change into his disguise as a lord. When he stumbles back around the corner, the guard captain tells him he chased the man off. Wayne acts like he is from House Tekiel and yells at him for leaving his post. He says he will send his personal guards to help. Wayne changes once again to look like a guard. He goes to the captain and Wax follows Shortly after (also dressed like a guard). Marasi starts up the “shooting” with the beggars they hired to help. Wax is shot in the shoulder, so Wayne moves him inside the Breaknaught. He closes the door and the shooting stops. He explains they stopped the Vanishers and saved the cargo. As the captain convinces everyone else, Wayne slips away.

Wax takes off the uniform and uses everything he had packed underneath it to set up for his plan. The train slows to a stop right when he expects. Wayne and Marasi watch the Train stop because of the “phantom” train (wooden train front on manual car with a light). They look at the canal and see a barge with a crane. It uses the crane to lift the Breaknaught and replace it with a copy. Wayne and Marasi get on their horses to follow. Miles knows Wax is inside the railcar. He wishes he could just dump it into the canal and drown him, but knows someone else would find it. They get to the city with the railcar and cranes covered to look like stones. They unload the railcar and attach chains to it and it’s outside door. A machine is used to tip the door off as Miles warns everyone to only use aluminum bullets. When the door flies off, Miles is surprised to see a string attached. He sees the dynamite on the door and someone in the car pull the string tight to trigger it.

When Wax sees the open room they are in, he knows he is in trouble. he ends up dodging Tarson’s punches until Wayne drops through the exploding roof and puts them in a speed bubble. He points out the coinshot behind him and the bullet heading for Wax’s head. They switch opponents. The coinshot is joined by a lurcher and they chase him up the building’s spire. Wax uses a regular bullet to send the coinshot flying so he can deal with the lurcher alone. Just as he is about to land back on the ground, Marasi shoots the lurcher. Wax rushes to Wayne. Once they are in a speed bubble, Wayne points out Miles to Wax. Wax throws a stick of dynamite and goes after Miles. Miles goes into the Breaknaught and gets tied up in Wax’s nets. He drops his gun and Wax grabs it. Miles pulls out a cigar box with a piece of dynamite inside. Wax pushes to get away, but still gets banged up. Miles is completely headed and tells Wax he knows he is destined for something great. When he goes to get a gun, Wax pushes himself to cover. Wayne is almost out of stored health and ingests the last piece of bendalloy while avoiding Tarson. He is shot at by the coinshot that now has Marasi’s rifle. He decides to save her before Wax. Wax lays on the ground and finds that his last gun is broken. He asks Harmony for more help and Harmony answers that he must keep balance, but has helped Wax a little. Wax’s trunk is right next to him. Marasi left her rifle to hide from the coinshot. She sees Miles and him talking as they move closer to where she is. He points his gun at her and tells her to call for Wax. She tries, but nothing comes out. Wax appears in his mistcoat and shoots Miles in the side with a shotgun.

Miles heals quickly, but the coinshot pushes away to safety. Wax uses the coinshot-bullet to kill him. Miles threatens that he has sent people to kill Steris. Wayne and Marasi agree to keep Miles occupied and Wax takes off for the tunnel. He finds a stairwell leading up to a wooden building. He launches himself off the nails holding it together and starts shooting. He feels better than he has in a while as the mists seep in. He finds Steris and the captured gunsmith, Nowcil. He hands the man a shotgun and launches him into the canal for safety. He grabs Steris, increases his weight as much as he can, and pushes against all the metal in the building to collapse it. He sends Steris to get the constables. When Wax returns to his friends, Tarson has Marasi with a gun to her head. Wax knows Miles will have him shoot her. Wayne puts up a speed bubble at Wax’s request. Wax fires a bullet out of it, and Wayne drop the bubble, and then uses the bullet to push himself to where he can shoot tarson in the head. With all the lackeys gone, Wayne leaves to get backup. Wax takes a beating while Miles talks about his great plans to help the underprivileged against the aristocracy. It looks like Miles is about to kill him when Marasi runs to Wax. She drops her speed bubble and he realizes he is surrounded by constables. They beat him and tie him up to take him away.

At the station, General Brettin offers Wax a citywide deputized forbearance that will be back dated to excuse his actions. Wayne arrives and gives Wax another aluminum gun he traded a scarf for. He then goes off to talk to the constables. Marasi sits with Wax and he tells her he can’t be with her. She is taken to give her statement. Steris arrives to thank him and asks if their contract is still favorable. She admits that she is not good with people and has been turned down by three other suitors. Wax hesitates (realizing that Marasi is like Lessie) and then accepts Steris’ contract.

Wax confronts his Uncle Edwarn on a train (Miles had been tracking his movements in a cigar box). Wax demands the release of the other hostages and his sister. There is no evidence that Edwarn or alive or connected to Miles’ actions. Now that House Tekiel’s reputation has been ruined, he has purchased them. The goods have been restored and Wax realizes it was all about insurance fraud. Edwarn knew Miles would have to be captured for his plan to work. Wax threatens his uncle, but Edwarn is prepared with Allomancers. Edwarn says he will send Wax information so he will understand. Wax threatens his uncle’s life before the men toss him off the train. Wax returns to the train station where Wayne is waiting. HE shows him his uncle’s pocketbook he traded for a threat and a promise.

Marasi watches Miles’ execution. She was one of the lawyers on the trail. Miles has to be shot in multiple rounds to kill him as he preaches about Trell and uses the last of his health reservers. Marasi looks away as a constable goes to shoot him in the head. She sees a figure in a black robe slip away. Marasi follows. Marsh apologizes for tugging on her emotions. He gives her a book to give to Wax to inform him of what is going on. Marasi asks why he came to her. He admits he thinks Wax would have shot him, but likes that he is doing Kelsier’s work.

About the Blogger

My name is Michelle, and I like to read... a lot. As I read a book, I take notes after each chapter. When I finish the book, I type out a summary and post it in this blog.It has taken me a while to find a process that really works. Some of my older summaries will be short and just summarize the overall plot.